In a 13th century tithe barn in Tisbury is the Wiltshire outpost of London gallery Messums, opened a decade ago by Johnny Messum and hard to miss with its towering outdoor sculptures visible from the lane. Exhibitions and events range from ceramics and sculptures to film and photography, featuring work by Elisabeth Frink and Henry Moore – with the onsite ‘Mess’ café serving a mean flat white.
Since the early 90s the NewArtCentre has been at Roche Court in the village of East Winterslow near Salisbury, specialising in 20th and 21st century art with sculptures dotted across the parkland and woodland surrounding the house. But it’s further north in the Vale of Pewsey that a new scene of creatives is blooming, thanks to artist and illustrator Catriona Tyrwhitt and fashion and portrait photographer Alex Bramall who are behind MADE in the Pewsey Vale, a gallery and community collective of creatives on Pewsey high street.
Book a treatment
Tucked off the A303 in the pretty village of Wylye is Olivia Pope Studio: soon becoming the worst kept wellness secret in Wiltshire, with locals and weekenders flocking for her facials that use a box of tricks from micro needling to lymphatic drainage. Before becoming a facialist, Oliva was behind the homewares brand Bias Editions so you’ll be tempted to keep one eye open to get your interiors fix.
For reflexology wizardry, head to Pip Zingg in the village of Fovant, 10 miles west of Salisbury, where her outhouse has been turned into an effortlessly calm sanctuary with limewashed walls and a bucolic brook trickling past outside. Then there’s the Potting Shed in the grounds of Bradley Park nestled in a walled garden (less than 10 minutes from the Henry Hoare-designed gardens at Stourhead), where therapist Rebecca Prior is big on organic treatments. Or for a blow-out, head to the newly revamped spa at Woolley Grange outside Bradford-on-Avon with its indoor pool and heady list of Elemis treatments.
Shop local
Jake Eastham
Make a beeline for the new Fox & King bookshop on Tisbury high street – a literary treasure trove that’s been opened by journalist and podcaster Chloe Fox – before crossing the road to pick out a bottle from wine shop Gardner & Beedle. Just out of the village is the technicolour homewares brand Montes & Clark with its tiny shop in the garden of co-founder Kate Clark, and nearby is the home of Compton Marbling, which has been making hand-marbled paper and products since the 1970s and can be visited by appointment at its studio in a courtyard of 19th century farm buildings.
Further north, set aside a morning to amble along Marlborough’s smart high street which comes alive on Wednesday and Saturdays with the farmers’ market. Dip into the cleverly curated Willow & Wolf for Bella Freud jumpers and Charlotte Simone coats; Curate for brands from Bellerose to Stripe & Stare and Radish Loves for the best pick of toys – before recharging with a cinnamon brioche bun in Bunce’s.
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